APPROVED

 

MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

 

February 28, 2000

 

PRESENT: B. Ryan (Chair), M. Kaplowitz, L. Mosiello, G. Oros, S. Swanson, R. Wishnie.

 

STAFF: R. Hoch, S. Vanderberg.

 

GUESTS:  Charles Faillace; former Chief; Somers FD

                   County Executive’s Office: Bill Randolph,

                   Ingrid Bent

 

With a quorum present, the meeting was called to order at 9:28 a.m.

 

Fire/Police Response Team

 

Charles Faillace, ex-chief, Somers FD, discussed the need for fire/police response at fire and other emergencies and asked the members to create and fund a Westchester County Fire/Police Response Team.  Mr. Faillace feels Westchester County could benefit from such a team.  He provided information on Putnam County’s fire/police team and mentioned the firemen’s benefits and insurance coverage for the response team members.

 

Mr. Faillace said the primary function of the Response Team would

be to provide support to emergency personnel and to secure the area in an emergency.  The team would be dispatched by 60 Control and report to the incident, commander for assignment of duties.

 

Mr. Faillace said that major fires, and haz-mat incidents are some types of emergencies the team would respond to.  He also stated that

Westchester County is listed in the top 10 of potential sites for terrorism.

 

 APPROVED

                                                                                                    PAGE 2

 

Minutes

Public Safety & Criminal Justice

February 28,2000

 

Mr. Oros stated that the Indian Point emergency could have potentially required the use of such a team.

 

Mr. Kaplowitz and Mr. Wishnie suggested asking 60 Control and the Fire Advisory Board to review of the proposal.  Mr. Wishnie added he is aware of similar organizations in place in a number of Northern Westchester communities.

 

COMMITTEE MEETING/HEARING INDIAN POINT

On February 22, the Committee held a meeting/hearing on the Alert emergency declared on 2-15-00 at the Indian Point Nuclear Plant #2. Mr. Ryan said that much information came out of that meeting and the members should now decide on an appropriate follow-up by Public Safety & Criminal Justice to the meeting. He recommended an action plan, the first step being a letter from the Committee to the Spano Administration asking that notification of local officials and County Legislators be immediately incorporated into the County’s emergency response procedures.

 

Members agreed and Mr. Wishnie and Mr. Mosiello felt that public hearings to review the current emergency evacuation plan should be

considered.  Members also felt NRC safetystandards for Con Ed,theNYS Power Authority and any other owner(s) of a nuclear plant should also be reviewed.

 

 

 

APPROVED

 

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Minutes                                        

Public Safety & Criminal Justice

February 28,2000

 

 

 

Mr. Ryan asked for approval of an action plan to address notification,

emergency evacuation, and NRC standards; moved by Mr. Wishnie, seconded by Mr. Mosiello, the action plan in concept was approved 6-0.

                                                                                                                                                     

Mr. Ryan will provide details of an action plan at the next meeting. 

 

The members were reminded of the joint meeting with the Budget and Appropriations Committee on 3/13/00 at 9:30 a.m., to discuss a new C.A.D. System.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m.